Toy building blocks and base



Aug. 28, 1951 c. POOL TOY BUILDING BLOCKS AND BASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 1, 1946 INVENTOR. d/arence 700/ Aug. 28, 1951 c. POOL2,565,823

TOY BUILDING BLOCKS AND BASE Filed April 1, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. C /aren ce 7 0a E49 22 BY Aug. 28, 1951 c. POOL 2,565,823

TOY BUILDING BLOCKS AND BASE Filed April 1, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 T //a//2 I 4 20 V [I 1 i Z :'\-\.-:-1 r a t //2 L,. ,2 M17 Q 1/6 Fr Fr l-L i2O INVENTOR. C/aren ca 7 00 Patented Aug. 28, 1951 UNITED STATES OFFICE.

The present invention relates to means adapted to effect an interlockedrelationship between toy building blocks when the same are to bevertically stacked and/or upon being laid out in end to end relationshipupon the floor of a play room as children are wont to do.

Neither the common faced toy building block, or the block whichconstitutes the subject matter of United States Patent Number 2,132,757,are capable of being stacked one upon another in lateral directionsbeyond a point which would constitute the medial vertical center of thesecond block of the series being stacked, because to do so wouldunbalance the upper block or blocks, and would cause toppling thereof tothe base support of the first block of the series. And while this isparticularly true of the common, plain faced block, it is equally trueof the block which constitutes the subject matter of United StatesLetters Patent Number 2,132,757, because the grooves of this block aremuch wider than the ribs which it is proposed to fit therein, so

3 Claims. (Cl. 4625) (1) To provide an improved interlocking meanswhereby one toy building block may be joined to another similar blockeasily, quickly and in a positive manner.

(2) To provide an improved interlocking means for toy building blockswhereby such blocks may be stacked in over-hanging or steppedrelationship pending attainment of the centerof gravity of the whole ofthe stacked blocks.

(3) To provide means in combination with my improved interlocking meansfor toy building that, in fact, the ribs lift from the grooves of thisblock without hindrance, whereby the upper or an upper block topplesover if the upper block is unbalanced with respect to a lower supportingblock.

To avoid this handicap in use, resort is usually made to placinganother'block in an opposite position in the same plane and then joiningthese blocks with another block which spans the inter vening spacebetween them, thereby correcting an unbalanced condition.

It is a further matter of common experience that the flooring upon whichchildren play with building blocks is usually uneven and does notpresent a plane surface due to irregularities in the floor itself or inthe carpeting or rugs thereon, with the result that building blocks canonly be stacked a limited vertical height before they topple over due tobase inclination of the first block of the stack built up. Also, and asa matter of fact, toy building blocks heretofore made, and of which I amcognizant, have been made solid, and hence it follows that such blockspossess considerable and unnecessary weight, and as such present an everpresent hazard to windows and other fragile objects, for children areabout as apt to occasionally throw a building block as they are tocarefully and studiously build them into fanciful shapes.

The preceding matter has been directed to com ditions generallyprevalent in or connected with currently used building blocks, and inview thereof the following may be stated as being among the objects ofthe present invention.

blocks, per se, whereby such blocks may be stacked to form arches andother inherently unstable structures extending over and beyond the basethereof.

i) To provide a toy building block which is hollow, whereby-the Weightthereof, in comparison with solid structures, is greatly lessened,thereby limiting the danger thereof when thrown as a missile, or whenidly falling from an elevated point.

(5) To provide a novel mode of construction of a hollow toy buildingblock whereby the point or points of assembly thereof of diversecomponent parts is practically invisible.

(8) To provide a building slab having a plane surface, excepting for,and upon which anchoring points are securedas a means to fixedly securethe first of a series of building blocks, whereby inherently unstabletoy building block structures may be erected thereon.

(7) To provide asa structural element of the container in which toybuilding blocks are merchandised, a plane surface, excepting for, andupon which anchoring points are or may be secured as a means to fixedlysecure the first of a series of toy building blocks whereby inherentlyunstable toy block structures may be erected thereon.

The preceding and-other objects, features and advantages of theinvention may be noted: from the specification,- the accompanyingdrawing and the subjoined claims; 1

In the drawing of which there are three sheets:

Figure 1 is a view of a toy building block showing the-ribs and groovesof my improved interlocking means in end elevation.

Figure 2=is a side view of the block shown in Figure 1, the figureshowsafragment thereof broken away to show the means I have devised to fixedlysecure one of the faces of the block to the hollow cast portion thereof,whereby the point of cementing the two parts together is renderedinvisible.

Figure 3 Ba top plan View of the block construction shown in Figures'land 2.

Figure 4 is-a view of a toy building block having pins and recesses inopposite faces thereof, and which pins and recesses servesto hold likeblocks in detachable union.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the block shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 66, inFigure 4, showing in particular the means used to fixedly secure one ofthe faces of the block to the hollow cast body portion thereof, wherebythe point of cementing the two parts together is rendered invisible. 1

Figure 7 is a view showing a modification of the construction employedin connection with Figures 1 to 3, here the under-cut ribs and groovesare formed in four of the sides of the block, the broken portion of thefigure is intended to show that the means used in connection withFigures 1 to 6, to secure one of the faces of the block to the hollowcast body thereof, is also used in connection with this furthermodification of my toy building block construction.

Figure 8 is a view of a side of the block shown in Figure 7; and,

Figure 9 is an end view of the block shown in Figures 7-8.

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view of a toy building block showinga modified type of interlocking means adapted to fixedly secure two ormore building blocks in union.

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view of a building block having afurther modified form of interlocking means whereby two or more toybuilding blocks may be fixedly joined in detachable union.

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view of a toy building block showinga still further modified form of interlocking means whereby two or moretoy building blocks may be fixedly joined in detachable union. 7

Figure 13 is a view showing the positive nature of my improvedinterlocking means in toy building blocks, here an irregular stack oftoy blocks has been pyramided upon a single block as a base, the view isbelieved to definitely show the nonslip nature of my interlocking means,and while this figure shows the type of interlock used in Figures 1 to3, and 7 to 9, it is equally applicable to the type of interlockingmeans shown in Figures 10, 11, and 12.

Figure 14 is an edge or side view of a base having anchoring points tonon-tiltingly secure a base block member upon which other blocks may besecured in an arching or other overhanging and inherently unstablestructure.

Figure 15 is a plan view of the type of base support shown in Figure 14,in which four convergingly arch-like toy block structures are anchoredto the base support. v

Figure 16 is a sectional view showing the type of anchoring supportshown in Figures 14 and 15 applied to the base of a merchandisingcontainer for toy building blocks.

Figure 17 is a view in section through a container in which buildingblocks may be merchandised and in which the cover of the container isprovided with anchoring points for toy blocks, the anchoring pointsbeing similar to those shown in connection with Figures 14, 15, and 16.

Figure 18 is a plan view of a base support for toy building in which aplural number of the male interlocks of the type shown in Figures 1 to3, and 7 through 12 may be cemented as a separate element to the planebase thereof, or

may be moulded as a unitary structure with the base, as a means tofixedly secure the first block of a series of blocks in inherentlyunstable structures.

Figure 19 is a side view of one of the premoulded interlocking stripsshown in plan in Figure 18, the view being substantially that seen alongline I9I9, in Figure 18; and,

Figure 20 is an end elevational view thereof.

Figure 21 is a view taken along line 2 |-2l in Figure 18 showing afragment of the base, and in addition thereto, shows two blocks ininterlocked relationship one with the other, while one of the blocks isinterlocked with the base and/ or an interlocking element upon the base.

Figure 22 is a side elevational view showing a modified form of ribconstruction upon a toy building block, the construction illustrated isthat of an undulating line whereby upon being joined the blocks cannotslip laterally of one another across the ribs shown.

In the specification the reference character so indicates a childs toybuilding block, which is of cubic form, and which is formed as a hollowmoulded structure having one open end which is adapted to receive a capas will be hereinafter more fully described. The block is formed of athermal setting plastic for the prime reason that this type of materialis resistant of the heat of boiling water, thus enabling the block to besterilized before being given to young children to play with.

As the drawing shows, the opposite faces 22 and 24 are provided with theimproved interlocking means which constitutes the present invention. Theface 22 is formed with a plural number of outwardly projecting ribs ormale interlocking members which extend substantially the length of theblock, and which as the drawing shows, are each formed with a flatrectangular outer face 28 and have under-cut or over-hanging sides 30which extend the full depth of the grooves 32 or female portion of theinterlocking member with which they are adapted to nest at an angle ofless than degrees, and which grooves are in all respects dimensionallycompatible with the ribs aforedescribed thus enabling a nestedrelationship to be had. The relationship thus established can only bemade by moving the ribs of one block into matched alignment with thegrooves 32 of another block from lateral points and then sliding theribs and grooves together, thereby forming an interlocked relationshipthat cannot, as shown in Figure 12, become disengaged by reason ofgravitational force, when the ribs and grooves are in a horizontalplane, for the reason that the outwardly projecting sides 30 of the ribunderlies the divergent sides 34 of the grooves 32, so that verticalwithdrawal thereof is resisted by the sheer strength of the materialused to form the block.

The positive nature of this type of interlocking joint enables childrento build structures in which one block overhangs another block inirregular contour, as shown in Figure 13, and the stack or column ofblocks thus formed will remain in placed position, pending passingthrough the center of gravity of the whole of the stack thus formed.

In Figures 7, 8, and 9, I show a toy building block having theaforedescribed type of interlocking joint upon four of the sidesthereof, while the ends of the block are free for embellishment withalphabetical letters, numerals, or other insignia, thus providing anovel variant of block construction which enables children tobuildrecesses 42 of like configuration formed in a dimensionallyopposite face, form a simple and low cost type of interlocking meanswhereby oneblock may be physically joined to another in predetermineddisen ageable relation.

The toy building block shown in Figures 10,- 11,

and 12 include variants of the type of interlocking means shown inFigures 1, 2, and 3, and '7, 8, and 9, in that while the ribs andgrooves are of dissimilar cross-section, the ribs and grooves of each ofthe modifications shown fit within and under the overhanging sides of agroove formed in another and similar block.

Reference to Figure will show that the ribs 52! are substantiallyT-shaped in cross-section, and of course extend substantially the lengthof the block as mentioned in connection with the ribs 26 shown in Figure1, while the grooves 52 are of like configuration and length, and areadapted to receive the ribs 50 nested therein, and the ribs and groovesare joined upon being slid together in end alignment. I

Ihe interlocked relationship thus established makes it impossible forone block to be vertically withdrawn from another either by physicaleffort or by gravitational force when the ribs and grooves are in ahorizontal plane for vertical movement is resisted in this form ofinterlock by the shear strength of the material used in form-' ing theblock in like manner to that set forth in connection with Figures 1, 2,and 3.

In Figure 11 a further modification of my theory of interlocking jointsas applied to toy building blocks is shown. Here the ribs 60 are formedas shown in section with a circular or undulating contour in the outerportion thereof and the material intervening between this outer circularportion and the body of the block is concavcd in sufiicient degree sothat the grooves 62 thus formed between any two ribs is sufficient indimension and contour to receive the ribs of another like block, asshown in dotted lines, thus forming an undulating configuration ofconvex and concave surfaces which when in matched engagement is bothpositive and attractive. in appearance. The joint thus formed rendersvertical withdrawal impossible, being limited only by the shear strengthof the material used in making the block as previously mentioned inconnection with the form of interlock set forth in connection withFigures 1, 2, 3, and 10, and makes possible fanciful block constructionwherein upset due to withdrawal of the ribs of one block from thegrooves of another like block by oven-balance is impossible as set forthabove.

In Figure 12 I show a minor variant of the interlocking rib constructionshown in Figure 10. Here the ribs Ill are substantially T-shaped incross-section, being modified only in that the corners of the ribs andcompanion grooves 12 are formed with radii, otherwise the interlockingjoint thus formed, the mode of assembly, and resistance to verticalwithdrawal by upset, conforms with the statement previously made inconnection with the construction shown in Figures 1 to 3, 7 to 9, and 10and 11.

As previously mentioned in column 4 of this text, the toy building blockherein described is 6. formed: as a hollow moulded article formed of athermal setting plastic.

As a matter of practicability as well as of necessity, the block ismoulded as a hollow rectangle having relatively thin sides, and from.which a core iswithdrawn upon completion of the moulding operation,thereby necessitating that one of the sides of the block remain open.The cover or cap 9|- for the open side of the block being of courseformed as a separate article. Mating the side or cover 9| with the openend of the hollow block in such a manner as to conseal the cementingline between the block and cover presented a problem, which after manyexperiments resolved itself into the form of construction shown inFigures 2, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 12,

In each of the above referred to figures of the drawing, the block ismoulded with the surfaces 9t, 92, 94, 96, and 98 (see Figure 9 andFigure 10), all of which are rectangular, and are formed integrally as amonolithic structure having one open side. As shown, for example inFigure 10 (which figure is typical), 1 form a step H19 in the walls 90,92, 96 and 98 adjacent the upper or open end of the block, therebyforming a rectangular recess or lip upon which a matched rectangular anddependent shoulder m2 of. the cap or cover 9| is adapted to rest inuniformly mated position, and since the hol low block and the cap 9| aremoulded to precision dimension, the line I64 which constitutes the pointof mating of the block 20 and cap or cover 9| is invisible to ordinaryobservation.

The cap 9| is fixedly secured in the block 25 by first applying asuitable solvent or adhesive to the inner face of the stepped recess andto the outer face of the dependent shoulder Hi2, and then, "thereafterpressing the cap 9| into the open end of the block until the lower faceHi l of the shoulder or flange I02 rests upon the step [0B and issupported thereon in limitation of further movement.

The aforedescribed method of constructing the block and of assemblythereof into a unitary structure is relatively simple and constitutesthe most practical method of which I am aware.- It makes for uniformityof dimension, and since the block is. hollow, a great saving of materialand of weight is effected, but perhaps the most important considerationresides in the fact that the place or. point of mating the componentelements of the finished block is lost to ordinary observation.

The structure shown in Figures 14 to 20 is concerned with a novelprovision to establish a uniform base upon which toy building blocks maybe erected, and to provide means to anchor a first building block,whereby a series of other blocks having the interlocking meansaforedescribed, may be erected thereon in such inherently unstablestructures as arches, or vertically zigzagging columns, or columns withinterlocked and outwardly extended block projections.

The reference character H9 indicates a plane slab, preferably formed ofa thermal setting plastic, and from what may be termed the upper surfacethereof, a plural number of pegs ||2 project, as shown in Figures 14 and15, and which pegs are preferably arranged in pairs of two, and whichare adapted to snugly fit into openings I It formed in the block 20.

Figure 16 illustrates application of this form of anchoring to the baseof a toy block merchandising container which may be formed in whole orin part of plastic material, and in which the bottom H6 of the containerserves as the equivalent of the slab H as a horizontal base upon whichblocks may be erected, while in Figure 17, I have used the cover H8 forthe purpose of providing a horizontal base upon which the pegs H2 aresecured as an anchoring means. In this instance the cover could beformed of plastic material while the remainder of the container could beformed of other suitable material, such as card-board having the colorof the plastic cover.

Figure 18 is illustrative of a horizontal slab of plastic material uponwhich I propose to cement strips I20 having a plural number of the ribs26, or their equivalent as shown in Figures 10, 11, and 12, as ananchoring means for the blocks, which may then be erected inover-hanging and other inherently unstable forms of construction.

Obviously the ribs 26 may be moulded as an integral part of the slab orsheet I I0, however, it is cheaper, just as efiicient, and I believefrom the standpoint of child interest, preferable that the strips I20 beincluded as a part of the toy building block kit, together with asufiicient quantity of cement to bond the strips upon the slab H0,whereby a child, under guidance, may cement the strip I20 to the sheetH0 in such location as may seem best.

If the peg type II 2 of anchor or tie-down is used upon a slab or sheetH0, the blocks are erected thereon as shown in elevation, Figure 14, andin plan in Figure 15. In other words, the first block H3 is placed withthe openings H4 over the pegs H2, and since the dimensional clearancebetween the two elements is close, the block I I3 will be securely fixedupon the base H0, while in the disclosure made in Figure 18, a firstblock is slipped over the ribs 26 in the same manner as would be thecase if the ribs 26 upon the strip I20 comprised the upper surface of ablock being joined to a second block. In either case, the inclusion of ahorizontal and plane base having anchoring or toy building blocktie-down points thereon, in combination with cooperative and positiveinterlocking means in the blocks per se, whereby inherently unstable toyblock structures may be erected thereon, is believed to be a materialcontribution to the art to which the invention appertains.

I claim:

1. A base for toy building blocks whereby inherently unstable stacks oftoy blocks may be erected, in combination with at least one toy buildingblock, means to interlock said base and said block in detachable union,said means coinprising a plural number of strips of material havingunder-cut ribs and grooves adhesively secured upon one of the surfacesof said base, and a plural number of similar ribs and grooves formed incertain of the faces of said block, the ribs and grooves of said blockbeing matable with the ribs and grooves of said base upon being slidablymoved together.

2. In a toy building block of cubic form and upon a plural number of thesides thereof, interlocking means whereby other similar toy buildingblocks may be joined in detachable physical union, said interlockingmeans comprising alternate similarly dimensioned ribs and grooves havingsides formed at an angle of less than degrees whereby upon mating theribs of one block with the grooves of another similar block, verticalwithdrawal thereof is limited to the breaking resistance of the materialcomprising the sides of said ribs and grooves, and means to anchor atfirst block of a plural number of blocks whereby inherently unstableblock structures may be erected, said means comprising a base ofrelatively thin sheet material having a plane surface on one of thesides thereof constituting a lower surface and formed with a plane uppersurface constituting a work surface having relatively thin, elongatedstrips of ribbed and grooved material bonded thereto and in detachedrelationship to one another.

3. In a toy, comprising a base formed as a relatively thin rectilinearsheet of material, and building blocks, in combination, said base havingpro-formed strips of material having tongues and grooves adhesivelysecured to the base so as to form fixed anchorage places and saidbuilding blocks having tongues and grooves adapted for interlocking withthe tongues and grooves secured upon said base.

CLARENCE POOL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,084,597 Anft Jan. 20, 19141,130,324 Owen Mar. 2, 1915 1,465,637 Goss Aug. 21, 1923 2,020,562Miller Nov. 12, 1935 2,132,757 Paulson Oct. 11, 1938 2,217,374 MenzelOct. 8, 1940 2,262,199 Paulson Nov. 11, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 596,752 France Aug. 14, 1925

